Banshees originate from Irish mythology, also known as bean-sidhe. This creature often appears as a young maiden, a stately matron or an old hag, usually wearing a grey hooded robe or grey cloak of the dead.
A bad omen when seen, or heard, she is said to weep for the dead and her cries are warnings that someone nearby is close to death. Even though she's not always seen, her mourning call can be heard, usually when someone is about to die.
She may also appear as a washer-woman, and is seen apparently washing the blood stained clothes of those who are about to die.
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8 comments:
Great post, very interesting! I was going to do monsters for my A to Z theme, but in the end I decided on fairy tales! I'm glad you're doing it, it's a great theme! :)
Spooky picture, but a great character. Great post.
That is a seriously creepy picture. Yikes.
What a great theme for the challenge! The post is very informative, and the image is really cooool.
Wow that is quite the picture. I just read about my first bean-sidhe this year when I picked up Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers books.
Hope you're having a blast with the A to Z Challenge!
Anna@ Herding Cats & Burning Soup
That's one creepy looking banshee! One of my best friends used to be in an Irish band called Banshee Reel. Always struck me as being quite a juxtaposition of ideas.
When I teach my poetry unit, I always use Jack Prelutsky's Banshee. It's great...
Baleful banshee
Pale and worn
Frail and haggard,
Long forlon...
I think that's the beginning - love it :)
Nice. I wrote a poem about this particular washer woman. Haven't sold it-- yet.
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